The Riff Master Who Moonlighted as a Wrestling Villain: Every Time I Die's Andy Williams Has Died at 48

The match had just ended, and he hadn't yet had the chance to shed the name "The Butcher." Andy Williams, founding guitarist of Every Time I Die, collapsed on the evening of September 5 local time after finishing a tag team wrestling match at Mr. Small's Theater in Millvale, Pennsylvania. He was 48.

According to Consequence, Williams was competing alongside his tag team partner Jesse "The Blade" Guilmette at an Enjoy Wrestling event when he collapsed at ringside after the match. On-site staff performed CPR before he was rushed to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. TMZ confirmed his passing through the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office.

Williams was a founding member of Every Time I Die when the band formed in 1998, remaining with the group until its breakup in 2022. He played guitar on all nine of the band's studio albums, including their final release, 2021's *Radical*. After the band split, he formed a new project called Atomic Rule, while the remaining members—Jordan Buckley, Steve Micciche, and Clayton "Goose" Holyoak—went on to form Better Lovers.

Notably, just before the wrestling match, Williams had shared an update on Instagram revealing that his band had just finished writing new songs and recording demos. He wrote: "Update on what we've been working on! Excited to share this with everybody! Feels like we finally got our feet firmly planted in this beautiful land, and now it's full speed ahead!"

Tributes poured in following news of his death. Better Lovers wrote on Instagram: "A one-of-a-kind human in every aspect of his life. We, and everyone who ever crossed paths with him, were lucky to know him and share any moment with him, big or small. There will never be another Andy Williams."

All Elite Wrestling also paid tribute on X: "AEW is saddened by the passing of Andy Williams, known in the ring as The Butcher. A pioneer with ETID and Atomic Rule, he successfully transitioned into professional wrestling and was deeply respected by his peers both inside and outside the ring. Our condolences go out to Williams' family, friends, and fans."

Wrestler Josh Alexander, who had shared the ring with him, said: "He was one of the best people I've ever known. Every time I talked to him I felt like a better person after. I'll remember Andy for who he was — a big-hearted guy who always put a smile on my face. Rest easy, brother."

Knotfest, the music festival founded by Slipknot, also posted a tribute: "Gone too soon. While most will remember him for his guitar work in the underrated yet deeply influential Every Time I Die, as well as his career in wrestling, Andy Williams was a warm and beloved presence in every space he occupied."